An MTSU banner stands out against the changing leaves as people cross the Middle Tennessee State University campus in the background on Friday afternoon Nov. 10, 2023, in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

A dean at a Tennessee university was fired over social media posts saying she has "zero sympathy" for slain conservative activist, Charlie Kirk.

The move, "concerning the horrific and tragic murder of Charlie Kirk," Middle Tennessee State University's President Sidney McPhee said in a statement, came after what officials are calling the "political assassination" of the American right-wing activist on Sept. 10, and as comments from the school's assistant dean began making rounds on several social media platforms.

The school is about 40 miles south of downtown Nashville.

According to information from the university's website and social media pages, the school fired Laura Sosh-Lightsy, who "joined the MTSU family in June 2004. Laura has over two decades of experience in student development."

According to her LinkedIn page, Sosh-Lightsy was the assistant dean of students at MTSU and previously attended Western Kentucky University.

Sosh-Lightsy's comments were brought to the attention of U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who, in a repost on X, called for the dean's removal on the night of Wednesday, Sept. 10.

The Republican lawmaker, who recently announced her run for Tennessee governor, shared copies of the comments about Kirk, which another user had screenshotted and said were made by an “Assistant Dean of Students” at the university.

“This person should be ashamed of her post,” Blackburn wrote. “She should be removed from her position at MTSU.”

A political ally of President Donald Trump, Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Sept. 10.

According to The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network, Kirk was slated to appear at World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro for the Culture and Christianity Conference from Sept. 10-20.

Messages left for Sosh-Lightsy seeking comment for this story were not immediately returned to the USA TODAY Network.

MTSU statement on dean's firing

The assistant dean was fired after posting "inappropriate and callous comments" on social media, according to McPhee's statement on Wednesday.

The president posted the announcement at 10:51 p.m. local time, MTSU spokesperson Jimmy Hart told USA TODAY.

"The comments by this employee, who worked in a position of trust directly with students, were inconsistent with our values and have undermined the university’s credibility and reputation with our students, faculty, staff and the community at large," McPhee's statement reads. "This employee has been fired effective immediately. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Kirk family."

What happened to Charlie Kirk?

As of the morning of Sept. 11, authorities continued to hunt for the suspected shooter, but had recovered a firearm believed to have been used to fire the single fatal shot.

Although the suspect has not been publicly identified, authorities said in an update that they recovered a high-powered rifle in nearby woods that they believe was used in the shooting and learned additional details about a possible suspect from video being analyzed.

The FBI in Salt Lake City announced in an X post on Sept. 11 it is seeking the public's assistance in identifying what appears to be a man seen in photos released by the agency.

"We are asking for the public's help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University," the social media post, which includes pictures of the possible suspect, reads.

In the hours after the shooting, authorities detained two people, including one who was interrogated by law enforcement. Both were subsequently released.

Anyone with information about the suspect in the photos or the case is asked to call 911.

Contributing: Melina Khan, Melissa Galbraith, Will Carless Thao Nguyen, Josh Meyer and Jeanine Santucci/ USA TODAY

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tennessee university fires dean over 'zero sympathy' post after Charlie Kirk killing

Reporting by Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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